A method for increasing efficiency of a method for producing astaxanthin by culturing a microalga. A method for producing astaxanthin in which astaxanthin is produced in an algal body by culturing a microalga, wherein photoirradiation is performed using both a blue LED of peak wavelength from 420 to 500 nm and a red LED of peak wavelength from 620 to 690 nm, at least during an astaxanthin-producing culturing phase of a culturing period. The ratio of the blue LED of peak wavelength from 420 to 500 nm and the red LED of peak wavelength from 620 to 690 nm is preferably from 1:19 to 19:1 by photon flux density, and the photon flux densities are each preferably not less than 20 mol/m.sup.2/s.

Strains of microalgae belonging to the Scenedesmus genus grown in mixotrophic mode enable the production of lipids, in particular lutein. Methods for selecting and culturing the microalgae strains using variable and/or discontinuous supply of light, in particular in the form of flashes, are provided.

Provided is a composition comprising Chlamydomonas reinhardtii or an extract of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, wherein the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii or the extract of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii functions as an antagonist of an adrenergic receptor.

Culturing S. glucoliberatum PABB004 under conditions effective for the S. glucoliberatum PABB004 to secrete simple sugars into culture medium. In one or more embodiments, the conditions include a pH of 6.0 to 8.5. In some cases, the culture can include a second organism. A co-culture includes S. glucoliberatum PABB004 and a second organism, wherein the co-culture has a pH of 6.0 or greater. In one or more embodiments, the second organism is selected to produce a product of interest such as, for example, ethanol.

New strains of microalgae belonging to the Nitzschia genus, allow high-yield production of lipids, in particular of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and/or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and/or carotenoids, in particular fucoxanthin, in mixotrophic mode, and a method for selecting and culturing such strains, using a variable and/or discontinuous light source, in particular a flashing light.

The present invention provides a method of producing a photosynthetic product, the method comprising maintaining a photosynthetic plant or algal cell suspension culture, in the presence of water, light and a carbonic acid-enriched growth medium. The carbonic acid may, for example be provided by feeding the photosynthetic plant cell suspension culture with a carbonic acid solution, a solid or liquid precursor thereof, or a gaseous mixture of carbon dioxide and one or more other gases. The invention also provides a method for producing a photosynthetic product, the method comprising maintaining a photosynthetic plant or algal cell suspension culture, in the presence of water, light and a carbon source selected from carbon dioxide and carbonic acid, wherein the culture is maintained at a pH of less than 7.0, preferably 4.5 to 5.5.

Novel strains of microalgae belonging to the Scenedesmus genus enable the production of lipids, in particular lutein, in mixotrophic mode, as well as a method for selecting and culturing the strains using a variable and/or discontinuous supply of light, in particular in the form of flashes.

The present application relates to a novel microalgae strain with the efficacy of promoting plant growth and a use thereof. When cultured in the presence of fermentation exhaust gas, a novel Chlorella vulgaris CD02-3002 strain according to an aspect grows fast with a high efficiency of photosynthesis and thus can effectively reduce the exhaust gas generated by microbial fermentation. Having the effect of promoting plant growth when applied to plants, a culture of the strain or a supernatant of the culture can be used as a fertilizer for plants and thus can be advantageously applied as a novel carbon reduction technique.

Recombinant DNA techniques are used to produce oleaginous recombinant cells that produce triglyceride oils having desired fatty acid profiles and regiospecific or stereospecific profiles. Genes manipulated include those encoding stearoyl-ACP desturase, delta 12 fatty acid desaturase, acyl-ACP thioesterase, ketoacyl-ACP synthase, and lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase. The oil produced can have enhanced oxidative or thermal stability, or can be useful as a frying oil, shortening, roll-in shortening, tempering fat, cocoa butter replacement, as a lubricant, or as a feedstock for various chemical processes. The fatty acid profile can be enriched in midchain profiles or the oil can be enriched in triglycerides of the saturated-unsaturated-saturated type.

Disclosed are techniques and systems for producing microbials having anaplerotic oils that are rich in odd-chain fatty acids, and other beneficial components, at higher concentrations than those present in other natural dietary sources of OCFA, at lower cost, and higher production yield. Further, disclosed are examples of incorporation of these higher concentration OCFA products into food for human and non-human animal consumption.